Sorry there are no pictures or video. No time.
8-2 record as of 4/15/2012! We are first in the division by 2 games and 4.5 up from LA! We are second in all of baseball! Way to go Rangers to start the year off.
DARVISH
Is the first pitcher since 1910 to win his Major League debut despite giving up four runs in the first inning.
Well, we've all seen him now, twice. Sigh. He doesn't look as special as we hoped, but he says he is still adjusting to American baseball. He's gone 5 innings both games and had mediocre stuff. His first inning of MLB baseball features Yu going 42 pitches! That's roughly 4 innings worth of pitching! If you were curious before his start what his pitching looked like, you certainly had a chance to watch it for awhile once he began. He settled in after that, and we actually needed up winning after him giving up five in the first two innings, thanks to some AMAZING defense, especially by Andrus and Kinsler who have made some incredible diving catches.
He pitched again yesterday, and was better, but his command was still all over the place. He ended up walking 3 in the sixth before Robbie Ross came in to get us out of the inning.
The quote below was said by a scout before his first start.... While I believe it is true, we will have to wait to see if his pitching can develop into the speciality the scouts have seen.
[It's] easy to see that Darvish is a special pitcher, one capable of missing a lot of major league quality bats right out of the chute. He showed two types of fastballs (four-seamer, two-seamer, two types of curveballs (66 mph and 78-80 mph), a slider, a cutter, a straight-changeup, and a splitter. He showed the ability to miss barrels with all of them, even when his overall command was good but not great. His delivery is very clean and repeatable, so the command is going to be there. The stuff is electric and explosive, and with his preternatural ability to manipulate the baseball, can show multiple varieties of each pitch, changing the speed and shape at will. It’s really an incredible experience to see the ball come out of his hand and move around as it nears the zone. I’ve never seen anything like it. This is going to be fun.
Kinsler
His contract has been extended until 2017. It is a 5 year $75 million deal. It is the highest average paid out for a 2nd baseman. However that is not spread evenly over the 5 years. The Rangers will pay out Kinsler $13M in '13, $16M in 2014 and 2015, $14M in 2016 and $11M in 2017. Option for 2018 is $10M with a $5M buyout.
I didn't used to be a huge Kinsler fan, but the last two years have changed my mind. He's especially gotten off to a great start this year, and actually was 7th in the AL MVP voting last year. He is an overlooked player however.
1. He doesn't have a high batting average. He has a .276 lifetime so the number doesn't stand out as great.
2. Kinsler is a solid five tool player. He is a good overall player. However he isn't fantastic at any one thing that makes him stand out.
3. He has had injuries throughout his career which as kept his at bats low.
For me, Kinsler is a rare player that is getting better the older he gets. Let's hope it says that way. I think this was a great deal the Rangers shouldn't regret to help lock in some of the key players they have. Since Hamilton most likely won't be with the team next year, the concern with Kinsler's health, and new prospects coming up, the Rangers have the ability to even move him into left field in the next couple years.
Robbie Ross
Is amazing! For someone who was supposed to go to AA this year, since he hasn't pitched above high A, he has earned his spot and proven he belongs on the Rangers this year. He's gone into two stressful innings 2 days in a row and gotten us out of both. So excited for him!
Have a great Week 2 baseball world!
8-2 record as of 4/15/2012! We are first in the division by 2 games and 4.5 up from LA! We are second in all of baseball! Way to go Rangers to start the year off.
DARVISH
Is the first pitcher since 1910 to win his Major League debut despite giving up four runs in the first inning.
Well, we've all seen him now, twice. Sigh. He doesn't look as special as we hoped, but he says he is still adjusting to American baseball. He's gone 5 innings both games and had mediocre stuff. His first inning of MLB baseball features Yu going 42 pitches! That's roughly 4 innings worth of pitching! If you were curious before his start what his pitching looked like, you certainly had a chance to watch it for awhile once he began. He settled in after that, and we actually needed up winning after him giving up five in the first two innings, thanks to some AMAZING defense, especially by Andrus and Kinsler who have made some incredible diving catches.
He pitched again yesterday, and was better, but his command was still all over the place. He ended up walking 3 in the sixth before Robbie Ross came in to get us out of the inning.
The quote below was said by a scout before his first start.... While I believe it is true, we will have to wait to see if his pitching can develop into the speciality the scouts have seen.
[It's] easy to see that Darvish is a special pitcher, one capable of missing a lot of major league quality bats right out of the chute. He showed two types of fastballs (four-seamer, two-seamer, two types of curveballs (66 mph and 78-80 mph), a slider, a cutter, a straight-changeup, and a splitter. He showed the ability to miss barrels with all of them, even when his overall command was good but not great. His delivery is very clean and repeatable, so the command is going to be there. The stuff is electric and explosive, and with his preternatural ability to manipulate the baseball, can show multiple varieties of each pitch, changing the speed and shape at will. It’s really an incredible experience to see the ball come out of his hand and move around as it nears the zone. I’ve never seen anything like it. This is going to be fun.
Kinsler
His contract has been extended until 2017. It is a 5 year $75 million deal. It is the highest average paid out for a 2nd baseman. However that is not spread evenly over the 5 years. The Rangers will pay out Kinsler $13M in '13, $16M in 2014 and 2015, $14M in 2016 and $11M in 2017. Option for 2018 is $10M with a $5M buyout.
I didn't used to be a huge Kinsler fan, but the last two years have changed my mind. He's especially gotten off to a great start this year, and actually was 7th in the AL MVP voting last year. He is an overlooked player however.
1. He doesn't have a high batting average. He has a .276 lifetime so the number doesn't stand out as great.
2. Kinsler is a solid five tool player. He is a good overall player. However he isn't fantastic at any one thing that makes him stand out.
3. He has had injuries throughout his career which as kept his at bats low.
For me, Kinsler is a rare player that is getting better the older he gets. Let's hope it says that way. I think this was a great deal the Rangers shouldn't regret to help lock in some of the key players they have. Since Hamilton most likely won't be with the team next year, the concern with Kinsler's health, and new prospects coming up, the Rangers have the ability to even move him into left field in the next couple years.
Robbie Ross
Is amazing! For someone who was supposed to go to AA this year, since he hasn't pitched above high A, he has earned his spot and proven he belongs on the Rangers this year. He's gone into two stressful innings 2 days in a row and gotten us out of both. So excited for him!
Have a great Week 2 baseball world!
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